We dont do ourselves any favours . . .

[Mulger bill]

Standing on the pedals is still 'sitting astride', and thus quite within the intent of the rule.

I think if we were to be thoroughly pedantic, 'standing' and 'sitting' are mutually exclusive. But anybody who gave you a ticket for it would have to be out to get you I reckon.

Likely.

Thing is, the spirit and intent of the law in this case are sufficiently at odds with the letter. It'd be easy to hide a grudge or bigotry behind the gap.

[il padrone]

Thing is, the spirit and intent of the law in this case are sufficiently at odds with the letter. It'd be easy to hide a grudge or bigotry behind the gap.

No. The letter gives a clear statement of the rule.

if the bicycle is equipped with a seat—not ride the bicycle seated in any other position on the bicycle

Firstly - if no seat fitted you can do what you like




Secondly, even if there is a seat fitted, the rule only applies if you are seated - "not ride seated in any other position". You are not given instructions about how or where to stand. But standing is not excluded

[softy]

I'm not "standing" for this!

[silentC]

But standing is not excluded

I think if you want to talk about intention of the legislation, I doubt that the intention was that if you are not sitting, you can do what you want. That would lead to a ridiculous situation where you could be fined for sitting side saddle, but not for standing on the top tube.

If they wanted to include standing, clause a) would have said "The rider of a bicycle must - ride positioned astride the rider's seat ...". Sit has a very specific meaning and excludes standing.

It's clear to me that they want you to sit on the damn thing while you're hogging the road.

And I don't think that the NSW road rules cover what you do on a bicycle in a gymnasium in Hong Kong or Germany

[mikesbytes]

The point about the stop sign being there due to the poorer visibility that motorists get due to being further back from the front of their vehicle is a good one.

It probably leads to the point that certain classes of road users should be exempt or have a different rule. We see this often, for example - No Right Turn - vehicles under 3m exempted.

On an intersection like that, its pretty clear that there is no real need for cyclists to stop as the vision is excellent. Would a separate rule work for bikes?

[bychosis]

Car drivers have licences to prove they can use the road without needing signs constantly as well.

That's a funny one!

[Xplora]

^^^ CAN use the road, not DO use the road

[il padrone]

If they wanted to include standing, clause a) would have said "The rider of a bicycle must - ride positioned astride the rider's seat ...". Sit has a very specific meaning and excludes standing.

It's clear to me that they want you to sit on the damn thing while you're hogging the road.

Read the rule again - it does not say must ride seated. Yes, it is intended that you should be positioned on the seat (if fitted), it excludes sitting anywhere else, but standing there is not excluded.

[g-boaf]

Hmm, better not do any of this then...



I haven't seen anyone descending like that in a while out on the road.

[il padrone]

Yeah, this sort of descending was probably illegal too..... but essential for us

[silentC]

but standing there is not excluded

It doesn't exclude doing a head stand either. Or dancing Swan Lake on the top tube whilst wearing a pair of army boots and juggling chainsaws. Stupid legislators!

[silentC]

I haven't seen anyone descending like that in a while out on the road.

As recently as last Saturday actually

[kb]

Hmm, better not do any of this then...



I haven't seen anyone descending like that in a while out on the road.

I gave it a try on the boulie a couple of weeks ago, just for fun. Coasting is fine but pedalling is quite awkward.

[queequeg]

If they wanted to include standing, clause a) would have said "The rider of a bicycle must - ride positioned astride the rider's seat ...". Sit has a very specific meaning and excludes standing.

It's clear to me that they want you to sit on the damn thing while you're hogging the road.

Read the rule again - it does not say must ride seated. Yes, it is intended that you should be positioned on the seat (if fitted), it excludes sitting anywhere else, but standing there is not excluded.

http://www5.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw ... /s245.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

245 Riding a bicycle

The rider of a bicycle must:

(a) sit astride the rider’s seat facing forwards (except if the bicycle is not built to be ridden astride), and
(b) ride with at least 1 hand on the handlebars, and
(c) if the bicycle is equipped with a seat-not ride the bicycle seated in any other position on the bicycle.
Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units.

In NSW at least, 245(a) requires you to sit, and to only sit on the fitted saddle.

The proposed Amendment to the rules is to remove the word "sit" from 245(a) and replace it with "be".

2 Australian Road Rules 11th Amendment Package - Explanation of Amendments August 2015

Rule 245 requires that cyclists sit (astride) at all times while riding. However, it is normal practice for cyclists to ride standing on the pedals, for example while cycling uphill.
The proposed amendment will align the road rules with current cycling practices.

Source: http://www.ntc.gov.au/Media/Reports/(BE ... C6855).pdf

[bychosis]

So 'look ma, no hands' is out too. Spoil all our fun.

[il padrone]

Stop signs..... yeah !!

[BenGr]

Stop signs..... yeah !!

You can't compare that to the original video though, although i'm sure people do get booked for similar things.

[queequeg]

Stop signs..... yeah !!

You can't compare that to the original video though, although i'm sure people do get booked for similar things.

This one is funny because one of the cops that went through the stop sign had earlier busted cyclists for rolling through stop signs

[il padrone]

Stop signs..... yeah !!

You can't compare that to the original video though, although i'm sure people do get booked for similar things.

Similar things

She had pedalled past the tram slowly after passengers had got off ''to get in front of the tram before it started moving'', she said, to avoid ''getting squished between [it and] a parked vehicle''.

However, the police saw it differently, and fined Lena $292.

[mikesbytes]

A good example of where one may perform an action to improve their safety, or perceived safety where that action requires an infringement of the law.

Riding on the footpath is probably the most common law broken to improve safety or perceived safety, particularly in Sydney